Paul Byrd Rumors

Phillies Discussed Paul Byrd

As David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News reports, the Phillies have discussed adding free agent right-hander Paul Byrd, but aren't sure he'll present an upgrade. "The question is whether Paul Byrd is going to be any better than any of the guys that we have -- Rodrigo Lopez, or [Carlos] Carrasco, or [Andrew] Carpenter or [Kyle] Kendrick," GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said Thursday. "Why would he be any better than those guys? We've brought up the name, we've talked about it. We've talked about almost every guy that might be available, whether it is free agency or what." It's...   Continue Reading

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Free Agent Update

June isn't typically a big month for free agency, but few teams seem willing to make their players available, so we could see clubs turn to the free agent market to add depth for the stretch run. Here are updates on a few of the players who could help contending teams the most: Pedro Martinez - We heard all about Pedro last week and now we have a list of teams that won't sign him. The Angels, Dodgers and Yankees aren't interested, the Nats and Brewers didn't see him throw, the Rangers think he's too pricey and the Rays only...   Continue Reading

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Byrd Awaits Calls, Says He's Ready To Pitch

According to Rob Bradford of WEEI.com, Paul Byrd wants to pitch and believes he can succeed, but says teams haven't been interested in him so far. Since the draft has passed, the Red Sox will not receive a supplemental pick for Byrd, a Type B free agent. Byrd sounds confident in his ability: "I still feel like I can really, really help somebody out," he said. He had a 4.60 ERA last year for the Indians and Red Sox. Tom Glavine, another free agent veteran, hasn't attracted much reported interest either, as teams have called on minor leaguers such as...   Continue Reading

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Why Are So Many Pitchers Still Unsigned?

We are nearing Memorial Day, and many pitchers whose resumes would normally have landed them at least a minor-league deal by now remain unsigned. Pedro Martinez is still homeless. While the complication may be in part due to Pedro's salary demands, it is surprising that nobody has signed him. Yes, his ERA was an unsightly 5.61 in 2008, but his 2007 stint was far better-2.57 ERA in 28 innings. His 87 strikeouts against 44 walks in 109 innings also suggests a pitcher who can help a team on the back end of a rotation. Given that it is Pedro Martinez,...   Continue Reading

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Davidoff On Free Agents

Newsday's Ken Davidoff runs through six current free agents, digging up new information about a few. Paul Byrd never received a call from the Angels, so he'll continue to wait until later this summer to see what's available. Frank Thomas is working with hitting coach Mike Easler, who believes "Frank might give it to the All-Star break." Easler says another client of his, Jacque Jones, could help a club. Jim Edmonds would play in the right situation, but his agent Paul Cohen doesn't know if there will be an offer. Damion Easley, another Cohen client, would also like to continue...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Byrd, Fox, Kobayashi

Links for Monday... MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince says the Indians signed 31 year-old reliever Blaine Neal to a minor league deal. Here's a look at Neal's minor league work - nice job for the Tigers' Triple A club last year. Masahide Kobayashi explains why he's struggled in the U.S., talking to Dennis Manoloff of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. MLB.com's Joe Frisaro wrote on Thursday that free agent pitcher Paul Byrd has a $3MM asking price. It might be time for Chad Fox to hang up the spikes. He owns a 3.79 ERA in 228 career innings. Would've been 3.45, without his...   Continue Reading

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Heyman On Strasburg, Pedro, Byrd

Let's take a look at the latest from SI.com's Jon Heyman. Heyman's on Twitter! Heyman runs through the surprise contenders and decides which teams are the real deal. The Nationals, as you know, have decided to draft Stephen Strasburg. Heyman learned from Yankees GM Brian Cashman that "the Yankees can't seriously consider Pedro Martinez or Paul Byrd until they're pitching somewhere." Heyman talked to another GM who estimated each player would need a month to get ready. Byrd told Yahoo's Tim Brown he needs just two weeks in the minors.   Continue Reading

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The Dodgers' Rotation

They're 15-8, in first place in the NL West, but the Dodgers face questions about a rotation that includes three ERAs of 5.50 or more. Behind Chad Billingsley and Randy Wolf, they have Clayton Kershaw, who hasn't pitched out the the fifth inning his last two starts, James McDonald, who has walked a batter an inning this year, and Eric Stults, who's allowing two baserunners an inning. Yahoo's Tim Brown takes stock of the rotation and how Ned Colletti will progress with it. Brown says it's unlikely the Dodgers will add Pedro Martinez, Paul Byrd, Odalis Perez or Freddy Garcia....   Continue Reading

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Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Pedro, Byrd, Ibanez, Figgins

On this date three years ago, the Red Sox traded for Doug Mirabelli to be Tim Wakefield's personal catcher. Mirabelli had to put his uniform on in the car from the airport and arrived 13 minutes prior to first pitch against the Yankees. While trades in April and May are rare, they are not unprecedented. Let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere... Fire Ned Colletti Now argues that Ned Colletti does not deserve an extension. My head just exploded. Sox and Pinstripes makes a case for the Yankees signing Pedro Martinez. Jorge Says No! takes...   Continue Reading

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Angels May Look to Independent Leagues for Pitching Help

According to Kevin Baxter of the Los Angeles Times, Angels manager Mike Scioscia says he might look to independent leagues for pitching help. "There are some good pitchers that don't have jobs that have major league experience," Scioscia said of independent league pitchers. According to Baxter, "the team appears unlikely to make a trade and management doesn't believe the big-name free agents still on the market - namely Pedro Martinez and Paul Byrd - can get up to game speed fast enough to help them." Baxter notes that Jose Lima and Brendan Donnelly are among the players who have resurrected...   Continue Reading

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